Parents and teachers at a Coventry primary school are campaigning against plans for a mobile phone base station nearby because they fear for the children's health.

Teachers, staff and pupils at St Mary and St Benedict School in Leigh Street, Hillfields, are worried about plans by Birmingham based telecommunications company Hutchison 3G UK to install the mobile phone base station at the Howitzer Club in Albert Street, Hillfields, just 100m from the school.

They say scientific evidence about safety is inconclusive so to be on the safe side the base station shouldn't be allowed.

Head Maureen Perry said: "The children here are young and their bodies are growing and developing. They don't have another chance."

School caretaker Robert Giampaglia, who lives on the site and has two sons aged 16 and four and an eight-year-old daughter, said: "I don't use a mobile phone myself and I don't see why I should have to live so close to a station."

Pharmacy employee Pauline O'Brien, aged 44, of Binley Road, Stoke, has a daughter aged six and a son aged 11 at the school.

She said: "I've got concerns about the safety of the children. I've signed the petition and I hope we can stop it."

Pat Baldwin, manager of Coventry City Farm in nearby Clarence Street, Hillfields, is also concerned and is collecting signatures for the petition as the base station would be close to the farm.

Hutchinson 3G UK regional community affairs manager Verity Stanford said: "In order to service the demand for third generation video phones in the Hillfields area we need a base station at this location."

She said that the base station would be well within admission guidelines and that scientific evidence shows there would be no danger to anyone.

She also said the petition is unlikely to make company bosses change their minds.

Planning permission is not needed but the company has to write to Coventry City Council to tell them about the plans.